Sustainability

Pittsburgh continues to clean up its image after being built around a not so clean steel industry.  Pittsburgh, who has long been a leader in the healthcare, technology, higher education, finance and logistics industries - can add now add sustainability to the list.

The transportation industry is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. today.  Medium and heavy duty trucks account for an estimated 26% of the transportation sector's emissions.  As a result, the trucking industry as a whole is in the sustainability spotlight.  Multiple Pittsburgh based trucking companies are making strides towards a sustainable future.

PGT Trucking launched its "Future of Flatbed" program in 2020.  This concept focuses on developing innovative shipping solutions for their customers as well as meeting environmental sustainability goals and enhancing the driver & employee lifestyle.  They are focusing on automation, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.  PGT set an emissions reduction goal of its company owned fleet of 35% reduction by 2025.  They are doing this by introducing newer trucks to their fleet, replacing fluorescent lights with LED, and are looking at long term investments in automation and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles through its parnership with Locomation & Nikola Corp.

Locomation is pursuing an autonomous two truck convoy where a human will drive a truck and a second truck will be tethered to truck #1.  This concept will allow 2 trucks to operate 20-22 hours a day delivering 2X the cargo 2X the distance.  This is a unique approach and at the moment, Locomation is the only organization focused on this method of autonomy.  A 2021 study by Boundless Impact Research & Analytics found this technology will reduce greenhouse gas footprint by 22%, cut operating costs by 19%, decrease fuel consumption by 21%, and reduce idling by up to 90%.

Pitt Ohio Express recently added fast charger stations in their Cleveland terminal for their new Volvo VNR vehicles.  They focus on MPG reduction by using straight trucks over tractors, updating preventative maintenance schedule intervals, increasing the average fleet age, adding automatic vehicles, adding skirted trailers, training drivers on proper shifting and speed management, and using on board computer technology to provide feedback on drivers' performance. They are also focusing on their terminals and have 5 LEED certified buildings as of 2021.  Additionally, they are locally sourcing office furniture and equipment, introduced storm water detention including bioswales and water efficient landscaping, added low flow fixtures and waterless urinals, installed LED lights, introduced electric forklifts, added geothermal heating and cooling system, and added radiant heated floors in maintenance shops.

Liberty Tire Recycling - as a recycling company, sustainability has been a main focus for Liberty since inception.  Based on their inaugural ESG report, they have a lot of initiatives in all areas of the organization.  They are optimizing routing by partnering with Omnitracs, leveraging the use of in cab telematics to improve safety & reduce idle-time, and much more based on their 27 page ESG report.

While these companies are leading the way, many other local transportation & logistics companies are also doing their part in the world of sustainability.  I look forward to sharing more updates on this topic from other organizations in the future.  If your company has a sustainability program in place and you want to highlight some of what you are doing, please email me at FR8@freightburgh.com!

For more information on these companies, please follow links below.

PGT - https://www.pgttrucking.com/work-future/

Locomation - https://locomation.ai/

Pitt Ohio - https://pittohio.com/mypittohio/corporate/about/sustainability

Liberty Tire - https://libertytire.com/Sustainability/